We have been doing unboxing and reviews of device for a while but the Lenovo Moto Z seems very different compared to the phones we have handled before now. What strikes me, and every other person that handled the device, immediately is the slimness and light weight of the phone.
Everything about the Moto Z is unique. While going through the packaging of the device, there are lot of things that stood out and pleasant to behold. I ensured I used the phone very well so that I can give an honest review of it and the truth is that I am not disappointed at all, even with the fact that some things are missing.
Content of The Package
Aside the Moto Z device, the package came with a plastic bumper that serves to protect the metal sides of the phone. Though I didn’t understand the rational behind this and it didn’t add any extra beauty to the phone. Also in the box is the 3.5mm headset/earpiece. You need to know that there is no audio jack so how then do you use the headset?
Not to worry, There’s a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter included in the package for you to use anytime you wish to listen to music. The only catch to this is that you can’t charge your phone and listen to music at the same time, another drawback. Lastly in the box is 15W Motorola Turbo Power charger. Unlike other devices where the charger cable can be removed and used to connect to a laptop, the cable of the Moto Z is fixed to the head!
Moto Z Specifications
Being a flagship device, the Moto Z packs some very powerful specifications which added to the awesomeness of the device. The processor is a Quad-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon with integrated Adreno 530 graphics. It also has 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, though I have read somewhere there’s a version with 64GB of storage. The storage can be expanded up to 2TB by MicroSD cards but this is at a cost of a second sim because of the space-saving hybrid SIM design.
The screen is 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 and 535ppi density. You need to experience the graphics rendering of the Moto Z to see how cool the device is. It is more or less of HD quality because the images and even videos come out very clear and so sharp! I have taken pictures with it, shot videos ad watch movies on it to tell you this is worth having.
For those who look at the battery rating to determine if a device is worth buying or not, this may be disappointing because the Moto Z comes with a 2600mAh battery, ouch! Not to worry the battery lasts longer compared to those with conventionally the same rating. Lenovo promised that for a charging of just 15 minutes you will get a standby time of 7 hours, well I can boast of about 5 hours after heavy usage with Wifi, Music and calls.
The Moto Z comes with a 13MP rear camera with laser autofocus of f/1.8 aperture. It also comes with PRO features where you can set White Balance, Manual Focus, the Exposure Value(EV) and other settings. The front camera is 5MP with wide-angle lens. It also has a USB Type-C port.
The Moto Z runs on Android Marshmallow (6.0.1)
Looking at all the specs you will agree with me that the Moto Z is worth having.
Design
The Moto Z is a flat phone with a minimal weight. It has a thickness of 5.2mm and weighs 136g, the lightest and thinest phone I have ever handled.
Just as it has been mentioned earlier, the Moto Z does not have an audio jack, a negative for me, but it has a USB Type-C to 3.5mm Adapter that you can use to connect the earpiece that came with the package. See image below:
At the top of the device is an hybrid sim slot. You can only use a nano sim or two with the Moto Z. So if you are already using a micro sim and desire to purchase this phone, be prepared to cut your sim further. With the slim slot, is also the memory card slot but you have to choose between using a second sim and the memory card. Hey, if your phone has an internal memory of 32/64GB, what exactly are you using an external memory card for?
The Moto Z has its navigation buttons on the screen and there is a particular button you will see at the bottom of the phone. If you are handling the device for the first time, you will surely think it is the home button. For the period of the review, I still didn’t rewire my brain to see it as it is. 😀
The button is actually a fingerprint scanner. I really can’t fathom the inspiration behind this but the fact is it does what it is supposed to do and that is what matters. 🙂
Camera
On the Moto Z, you get a back camera having 13MP with optical image stabilization (OIS), laser autofocus, and an f/1.8 aperture. Motorola has a brand new camera app this year, it is believed, and it has a more traditional layout, along with new settings, and a full “Professional” or manual mode.
For me, the camera is a YES. I have been a fan on mobile photography for a while and been using different phone camera at different occassions, using the Moto Z camera is somewhat exciting maybe because it is a flagship though I believe it can do more. It brings out the colour of the object very clearly in bright lights but not that sharp in low lights.
Below are some of the shots taken with the Moto Z:
For the period the phone was being reviewed, couldn’t do much of outdoor shooting with it but from the images above, you can see the quality of the camera at work.
Gaming
One of the best things you will enjoy doing with the Moto Z is playing games. I downloaded different heavy games on the device and at no point was there a drag or slowing down. With the kind of processor carried by the Moto Z and its’ 4GB RAM, I am sure less is not expected of it. 🙂
What are the two things I really don’t enjoy while using the phone? The Moto Z is bare without the mods. Mods are attachments that you can add to the phone to increase its efficiency. There are 4 different mods created for the Moto Z, namely: Battery, Camera, Speaker and projector mods.
Above is the Moto Z without it’s attached back cover. The mods are attached to the phone using the pins and magnets. It looks awkward anytime I remove the back cover and you can see hand stains all over when you hold it.
Another dislike is the lack of audio jack. Though an alternative has been provided, you will need to choose between listening to music and charging your phone, you definitely can’t do both together unless you want to use the speaker of the phone to listen to your music.
Final Verdict
Despite all these shortcomings, the Moto Z is a phone you will be proud to own. It is not cumbersome as such and you can show it off anywhere you go.
Bold and a beauty to behold
lovely. most wanted in my area